Three weeks later, it was finally the school holidays. However, hardly
anyone chose to go home and Gohan, who wasn't aloud to fly home and
couldn't afford to travel by plane any more than twice a year, was happy
for their company.
During this two week period, Gohan, Drew, Mitchell, Greg, Daniel and Hiro decided to go to the movies with Vicky, Faye, Videl, Kylie, Emily and Hannah.
"What exactly are we going to watch?" Gohan asked Drew as he sat beside him in the cinema.
"Some romance thing." Drew sighed. "Everyone says that year seven often start to get together over the first term holidays because after we go back, we have to start practicing for the formal."
"What formal?" Gohan asked.
"The stupid formal dance we have every year in the third term. We have to learn how to waltz and we have these stupid dancing lessons every second Friday throughout the second term. You're supposed to take a girl to it."
Waltz!? Gohan had to learn how to waltz!?
"But don't worry." Drew said, seeing the terrified look in Gohan's eyes. "In the fourth term we have a casual dance which is way more fun. Only you have to take a girl to that as well. So people are supposed to figure out who they're going to ask now."
Gohan thought about the formal all through the movie. He was so paranoid that he didn't even fall asleep during the movie, even if it was some boring romance. How could he get up the courage to ask a girl? And what hope did he have learning how to waltz?
The movie finished and everyone filed out into the sunshine.
"Let's go and get something to eat." Daniel suggested. "I'm starving."
Gohan trailed behind with Drew, wanting to know more about his new nightmare.
"Who are you going to ask, Drew?" Gohan asked him curiously.
Drew shrugged. "I haven't decided. I suppose Hannah. We went to the junior school formal last year so she might want to go with me again."
"Oh."
Gohan's thoughts were interrupted when a large teenage boy sprung in front of them.
"Remember me?" He asked curtly.
Gohan studied the boy's face. He was in about year ten with broad shoulders and a slender face. His eyes were crystal blue and his hair was pure blonde and as glossy as a full moon reflecting in a silver stream.
"Sorry but I don't know who you are."
The boy growled with anger. "I'm the guy behind the gym. You interrupted me and my girlfriend."
"Oh yeah." Gohan smiled, remembering the day he decided to fly to Kami's lookout to get a senzu bean for Cecilia and had run into the two teenagers kissing. "How is your girlfriend?"
He seemed even more angry than before. "I told you that day you had made yourself a powerful enemy and I stand by that. I can be pretty evil if I want to be, kid. My name is Chad Donahew. All the chicks dig me, and all the guys fear me. So you better be more careful around me."
"You don't look that scary." Gohan said naively. "My little brother could probably take you down and he's only a year old."
Chad was so filled with rage, he hardly managed to spit out a sentence. "You little....Ok, that's it. You're going down."
Chad reached over and picked Gohan up by the shirt. Gohan didn't even try to struggle as Chad aimed his fist squarely on Gohan's face.
How was he going to get out of this? If he fought Chad, they would all see his super strength. But then again, he had told everyone he was into martial arts. And he would only use a tenth of his strength so what was the harm in it.
"The little punk isn't even trying to break free!" Chad cried. A large group of people were gathered around them now, one woman was getting out her mobile phone to dial the police.
Chad aimed a punch at Gohan, who stopped it easily. He lowered his free hand to Chad's stomach, which he could barley reach and punched him with a tenth of his power.
Chad dropped Gohan emidetly and fell back, staggering and gasping for air. Gohan got into his fighting stance and smiled evilly. Chad however, was no longer in the mood.
"Ok kid, ok. You've made your point. Please don't hurt me; please."
The other's laughed at the crying heap Chad Donahew had become. The crowd of civilians muttered to themselves as they began to depart. At that moment, the police roared up to the pavement and got out of the car.
"Alright kids, explain." The chief police officer asked the group of kids in general.
"We were just coming back from a movie when this guy jumped out of nowhere and challenged Gohan." Videl began to explain.
"My word, Videl Satan!" The police chief exclaimed. "I didn't see you there, Videl. I wish I could have been here to see you beat up this thug."
"But it wasn't me." Videl protested. "It was Gohan. That guy."
All eyes turned to Gohan, who was standing meekly beside the winded teenager. The police chief's eyes widened with disbelief.
"This little kid? Wow, you must have gotten it from Videl. But why did you hit him?"
"Like Videl said, he challenged me." Gohan stumbled. "His name is Chad Donahew and he goes to Ellawin, like us. Only he's in year ten."
"I see." The police chief smiled. "Well, I better take him back to school then. My gosh, you Ellawin kids are a tough lot. I should send my daughter there. Which reminds me, could I get your signature for my little girl, Videl? She idolizes you."
After Videl signed for the police chief, they climbed on the next bus back to school.
"Hey Gohan, where did you learn to fight like that?" Videl asked Gohan, sitting beside him on the bus.
"He works out. His dad's into martial arts, like yours." Greg said, turning around in his seat to face them. "Hey maybe you guys should go to the formal together? You make a cute couple."
Videl gave Greg her most menacing look. She and Gohan? No way! That would never work. Gohan still hated her for trying to look in his school file, didn't he? Then why was she sitting with him on the bus?
The same thoughts were running through Gohan's head. She would never go to the formal with him, would she? Anyway, Gohan had a pretty good idea of who he wanted to ask now.
*****
Gohan dreaded the beginning of the new term. They would be starting dancing lessons that first Friday and it made his whole body shake when he thought about actually having to waltz.
When Friday finally came round, Gohan trudged to the school hall, where dance lessons were held.
"Don't worry." Hiro comforted him in Japanese. "I've never waltzed before either. Heaps of people haven't so we can all suck together."
"Yeah." It seemed that Hiro didn't realize that Gohan would not only just suck, he wouldn't even be able to last five seconds without stepping on someone or falling over.
The class gathered together in the hall. The dance teacher, an old, skinny woman in a dress made from goose feathers came into the room dancing. Her face was stretched with wrinkles and her eyes budged from their sockets.
"Welcome." She said in her extremely irritating and overdramatic voice. "Welcome children, to your very first dance lesson. My name is Madame Dooblet. Here you are going to learn the arts of dancing. Once I am done with you, you will be able to waltz like royalty."
Gohan severely doubted that.
"Alright then children, find a dancing partner and YES your partner has to be of the opposite sex. Now hurry up, I don't have all day."
Gohan scanned the room. Drew had asked Hannah to dance and most of his female friends had already paired up with someone. Even Vicky had reluctantly gone with Daniel. The only girl left to dance with was....Videl?
"Looks like the two of you will be partners for dance practice then." Madame Dooblet smiled her sticky smile as she brought Videl to Gohan and forced them to join hands. Videl winced.
"Don't worry dear, he won't bite. Your friendly, aren't you boy? Now everyone, let's practice without the music first. Relax in your partners arms.....I SAID RELAX!"
Videl gingerly put her hand on Gohan's shoulder and jumped as he placed his on her hip. They held hands with their other hand. Videl felt his fingers press against her own. They were hot, clammy and....warm.
"Ok, now step to my count. One two three, one two three, one two three. Girls, let your partner lead you. Let him pull you around the room. Relax in his arms and follow him."
Gohan stepped backwards and she stepped forwards. He stepped forwards and she stepped backwards. This was easy! He would have no problem doing this. No prob....
Videl suddenly pulled him forwards and he fell to the ground. He could hear her laughing, but it wasn't mocking laughter. She was laughing with him.
"Careful girl." Madame Dooblet warned. "Don't lead him, let him lead you."
Madame Dooblet put her hands firmly on Videl's arms and forced her to relax.
"See now, isn't that better? Just let him lead you." Madame Dooblet turned back to the class. "Ok, now I will add music."
She turned on the surround sound system in the hall and loud classical music blared from every direction.
Gohan, relaxing a little too much, stepped the wrong way and accidentally squashed Videl's foot. Then she purposely squashed his. Soon, they were playing a secret game while waltzing. Madame Dooblet saw this and stopped it with a menacing stare.
Gohan laughed, actually enjoying this and risked spinning her around. Videl laughed with him as she spun around in a circle, then looked up into his eyes. They were cold, black and filled with mystery. His hair cascaded freely down his back and his fringe blowed in the gentle breeze from the open window.
"Alright class." Madame Dooblet finally said, stopping the music and everyone from dancing. "Dance class is over now. I will see you same time next week for more lessons."
Gohan, Hiro and Drew walked down the hall together. Both of Gohan's friends were smirking at him in a queer way. Finally, Hiro got up the courage to ask Gohan the question that plagued both his and Drew's minds.
"So what's going on with you and Videl, Gohan?"
"What do you mean?" Gohan said with a laugh. "Nothing is going on."
"Yeah right." Drew sniggered. "You guys were actually having fun together at the end of that lesson. I could tell when I saw the two of you together that she really likes you. You should ask her to the formal."
"No way!"
Though Gohan did admit to having a great time with Videl during the dance lesson, he already had someone else in mind to ask to the dance.
During this two week period, Gohan, Drew, Mitchell, Greg, Daniel and Hiro decided to go to the movies with Vicky, Faye, Videl, Kylie, Emily and Hannah.
"What exactly are we going to watch?" Gohan asked Drew as he sat beside him in the cinema.
"Some romance thing." Drew sighed. "Everyone says that year seven often start to get together over the first term holidays because after we go back, we have to start practicing for the formal."
"What formal?" Gohan asked.
"The stupid formal dance we have every year in the third term. We have to learn how to waltz and we have these stupid dancing lessons every second Friday throughout the second term. You're supposed to take a girl to it."
Waltz!? Gohan had to learn how to waltz!?
"But don't worry." Drew said, seeing the terrified look in Gohan's eyes. "In the fourth term we have a casual dance which is way more fun. Only you have to take a girl to that as well. So people are supposed to figure out who they're going to ask now."
Gohan thought about the formal all through the movie. He was so paranoid that he didn't even fall asleep during the movie, even if it was some boring romance. How could he get up the courage to ask a girl? And what hope did he have learning how to waltz?
The movie finished and everyone filed out into the sunshine.
"Let's go and get something to eat." Daniel suggested. "I'm starving."
Gohan trailed behind with Drew, wanting to know more about his new nightmare.
"Who are you going to ask, Drew?" Gohan asked him curiously.
Drew shrugged. "I haven't decided. I suppose Hannah. We went to the junior school formal last year so she might want to go with me again."
"Oh."
Gohan's thoughts were interrupted when a large teenage boy sprung in front of them.
"Remember me?" He asked curtly.
Gohan studied the boy's face. He was in about year ten with broad shoulders and a slender face. His eyes were crystal blue and his hair was pure blonde and as glossy as a full moon reflecting in a silver stream.
"Sorry but I don't know who you are."
The boy growled with anger. "I'm the guy behind the gym. You interrupted me and my girlfriend."
"Oh yeah." Gohan smiled, remembering the day he decided to fly to Kami's lookout to get a senzu bean for Cecilia and had run into the two teenagers kissing. "How is your girlfriend?"
He seemed even more angry than before. "I told you that day you had made yourself a powerful enemy and I stand by that. I can be pretty evil if I want to be, kid. My name is Chad Donahew. All the chicks dig me, and all the guys fear me. So you better be more careful around me."
"You don't look that scary." Gohan said naively. "My little brother could probably take you down and he's only a year old."
Chad was so filled with rage, he hardly managed to spit out a sentence. "You little....Ok, that's it. You're going down."
Chad reached over and picked Gohan up by the shirt. Gohan didn't even try to struggle as Chad aimed his fist squarely on Gohan's face.
How was he going to get out of this? If he fought Chad, they would all see his super strength. But then again, he had told everyone he was into martial arts. And he would only use a tenth of his strength so what was the harm in it.
"The little punk isn't even trying to break free!" Chad cried. A large group of people were gathered around them now, one woman was getting out her mobile phone to dial the police.
Chad aimed a punch at Gohan, who stopped it easily. He lowered his free hand to Chad's stomach, which he could barley reach and punched him with a tenth of his power.
Chad dropped Gohan emidetly and fell back, staggering and gasping for air. Gohan got into his fighting stance and smiled evilly. Chad however, was no longer in the mood.
"Ok kid, ok. You've made your point. Please don't hurt me; please."
The other's laughed at the crying heap Chad Donahew had become. The crowd of civilians muttered to themselves as they began to depart. At that moment, the police roared up to the pavement and got out of the car.
"Alright kids, explain." The chief police officer asked the group of kids in general.
"We were just coming back from a movie when this guy jumped out of nowhere and challenged Gohan." Videl began to explain.
"My word, Videl Satan!" The police chief exclaimed. "I didn't see you there, Videl. I wish I could have been here to see you beat up this thug."
"But it wasn't me." Videl protested. "It was Gohan. That guy."
All eyes turned to Gohan, who was standing meekly beside the winded teenager. The police chief's eyes widened with disbelief.
"This little kid? Wow, you must have gotten it from Videl. But why did you hit him?"
"Like Videl said, he challenged me." Gohan stumbled. "His name is Chad Donahew and he goes to Ellawin, like us. Only he's in year ten."
"I see." The police chief smiled. "Well, I better take him back to school then. My gosh, you Ellawin kids are a tough lot. I should send my daughter there. Which reminds me, could I get your signature for my little girl, Videl? She idolizes you."
After Videl signed for the police chief, they climbed on the next bus back to school.
"Hey Gohan, where did you learn to fight like that?" Videl asked Gohan, sitting beside him on the bus.
"He works out. His dad's into martial arts, like yours." Greg said, turning around in his seat to face them. "Hey maybe you guys should go to the formal together? You make a cute couple."
Videl gave Greg her most menacing look. She and Gohan? No way! That would never work. Gohan still hated her for trying to look in his school file, didn't he? Then why was she sitting with him on the bus?
The same thoughts were running through Gohan's head. She would never go to the formal with him, would she? Anyway, Gohan had a pretty good idea of who he wanted to ask now.
*****
Gohan dreaded the beginning of the new term. They would be starting dancing lessons that first Friday and it made his whole body shake when he thought about actually having to waltz.
When Friday finally came round, Gohan trudged to the school hall, where dance lessons were held.
"Don't worry." Hiro comforted him in Japanese. "I've never waltzed before either. Heaps of people haven't so we can all suck together."
"Yeah." It seemed that Hiro didn't realize that Gohan would not only just suck, he wouldn't even be able to last five seconds without stepping on someone or falling over.
The class gathered together in the hall. The dance teacher, an old, skinny woman in a dress made from goose feathers came into the room dancing. Her face was stretched with wrinkles and her eyes budged from their sockets.
"Welcome." She said in her extremely irritating and overdramatic voice. "Welcome children, to your very first dance lesson. My name is Madame Dooblet. Here you are going to learn the arts of dancing. Once I am done with you, you will be able to waltz like royalty."
Gohan severely doubted that.
"Alright then children, find a dancing partner and YES your partner has to be of the opposite sex. Now hurry up, I don't have all day."
Gohan scanned the room. Drew had asked Hannah to dance and most of his female friends had already paired up with someone. Even Vicky had reluctantly gone with Daniel. The only girl left to dance with was....Videl?
"Looks like the two of you will be partners for dance practice then." Madame Dooblet smiled her sticky smile as she brought Videl to Gohan and forced them to join hands. Videl winced.
"Don't worry dear, he won't bite. Your friendly, aren't you boy? Now everyone, let's practice without the music first. Relax in your partners arms.....I SAID RELAX!"
Videl gingerly put her hand on Gohan's shoulder and jumped as he placed his on her hip. They held hands with their other hand. Videl felt his fingers press against her own. They were hot, clammy and....warm.
"Ok, now step to my count. One two three, one two three, one two three. Girls, let your partner lead you. Let him pull you around the room. Relax in his arms and follow him."
Gohan stepped backwards and she stepped forwards. He stepped forwards and she stepped backwards. This was easy! He would have no problem doing this. No prob....
Videl suddenly pulled him forwards and he fell to the ground. He could hear her laughing, but it wasn't mocking laughter. She was laughing with him.
"Careful girl." Madame Dooblet warned. "Don't lead him, let him lead you."
Madame Dooblet put her hands firmly on Videl's arms and forced her to relax.
"See now, isn't that better? Just let him lead you." Madame Dooblet turned back to the class. "Ok, now I will add music."
She turned on the surround sound system in the hall and loud classical music blared from every direction.
Gohan, relaxing a little too much, stepped the wrong way and accidentally squashed Videl's foot. Then she purposely squashed his. Soon, they were playing a secret game while waltzing. Madame Dooblet saw this and stopped it with a menacing stare.
Gohan laughed, actually enjoying this and risked spinning her around. Videl laughed with him as she spun around in a circle, then looked up into his eyes. They were cold, black and filled with mystery. His hair cascaded freely down his back and his fringe blowed in the gentle breeze from the open window.
"Alright class." Madame Dooblet finally said, stopping the music and everyone from dancing. "Dance class is over now. I will see you same time next week for more lessons."
Gohan, Hiro and Drew walked down the hall together. Both of Gohan's friends were smirking at him in a queer way. Finally, Hiro got up the courage to ask Gohan the question that plagued both his and Drew's minds.
"So what's going on with you and Videl, Gohan?"
"What do you mean?" Gohan said with a laugh. "Nothing is going on."
"Yeah right." Drew sniggered. "You guys were actually having fun together at the end of that lesson. I could tell when I saw the two of you together that she really likes you. You should ask her to the formal."
"No way!"
Though Gohan did admit to having a great time with Videl during the dance lesson, he already had someone else in mind to ask to the dance.